Cooker



H. J. BQIARDI Sept. 10, 1935.

COOKER 4 sheetls-sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1932 H. J. BOIARDI Sept. l0, 1935.

COOKER Filed Nov. 19, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /fff /NVE/Wme H. J. BOIARDI Sept. l0, 1935.

COOKER Filed Nov. 19, 1932 4 sneaks-sheet s 52%/ du ximg/ver l Patented Sephl '10, 1935 UNITED STATES comma Hector J.

Boiardi, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Chef Boiardi Food Products Company,

Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio l Applicationv November 19,1932, Serial No. 643,481

12 Claims.

This invention relates to cookers, more speciiically to apparatus for cooking in separate containers and by continuous process, small or individual portions of a given food, as for example 5 spaghetti, although it is to be understood that various other kinds of food which are boiled or heated in water or other liquid may be prepared in my apparatus.

One of the objects of the invention is the pro- 10 vision of an apparatus or machine of this character which shall require a minimum of labor for a maximum of output, and wherein the labor employed may be relatively unskilled.

Another object is the provision of a machine l5 or apparatus which shall have an unusually large capacity, more or less of which can remain unutilized except at rush times when the maximum capacity is required.

Another object is the provision of a cooking apparatus comprising means for stirring or agitating the food while it is being cooked, and for holding the containers against undesired motion during the agitating operation.

Another object is the provision of means for causing the containers or buckets to travel upwardly out of ,the cookingtank or boiler after the cooking operation is completed, and to be then dumped by suitable means, as` for instance by being turned or tilted upon a horizontal axis. 30 A further object is the provision of apparatus of this character so constructed and arranged that all parts which come into contact with the food or the cooking liquid maybe readily disassembled for cleaning. i

Other objects and features of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description of that embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illus- 40 trated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus or machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on a larger scale, this view being taken substantially on the line 45 2 2 0f Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation, partly in section, showing that end of the conveyor which rises out of the water or other cooking liquid. v

Fig. 4 is a fragmental detail elevational view 50 of one of the buckets together with a portion of the conveyor and of the upper tracks therefor,

this view being taken substantially n the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of one of the buckets and its supporting hanger.

(ci. ssi-2) y Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a'fragmental elevational view oi' a portion of the upper run of the conveyor withpits cooperating tracks, this view being partly in section upon the line 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the elevated end of the conveyor showing dliierent positions of a bucket as it is being dumped and as it is being held in inclined position for reloading. l0

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 9-,9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a bucket blank, and

Fig. 11 is a bottom perspective view oi' the operating means for the agitator. 15

Similar reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views.

In the embodiment illustrated I employ a framework of angle irons comprising uprights i 0, transverse braces I i and any other necessary elements. Within this framework is supported a sheet metal tank i2 having a gradually sloping bottom leading to a drain 4connection I3. -Anyk suitable means may be provided for heating the contents of the tank, that illustrated in the present instance being one or more gas burners located beneath the tank, as shown at I4. A water connection for filling the tank is shown at 8, and an overiiow drain connection at 9. If desired, the side walls of the tank may be'en- 30 closed in asbestos or other heat insulating material l5. When in use the tank is filled with water or other cooking liquid up to a level indicated at I6, which may be permitted to vary to some extent, although I prefer. to maintain it more or less exact by suitable automatic means, such as a float controlled valve, or to feed fresh waterV into the tank at a slow rate constantly through water connection 8 while the apparatus is in use, the desired water level being maintained by means of the overflow discharge connection 9. By the latter method any scum which may be released in the cooking operation is carried off, and the liquid is maintained clear throughout the operation of the machine. It will be appreciated that the absorption of liquid by the food in cooking results in the removal of a substantial amount of liquid which, in any event, would have to be replaced.

The apparatus comprising an elongated portion Il of the tank, where the cooking is mainly performed, and a loading and unloading portion I8 where the walls of the tank are extended upwardly to a height considerably above that of the portion I1, the driving mechanism being supported by through the tank, and the speed of travel, are so selected as to provide the requisite cooking time.

Near the right hand end of the tank, as viewed in Fig. 1, I mount on the inner side walls bearings open at the top for the reception removably of fa shaft 28, which carries near its extremities, and

therefore adjacent the walls of the tank, a pair of sprocket wheels 2| over which run two endless flexible elements 22 which, in the present instance, are chains. At the opposite end of the machine these chains run over sprockets 23 which are keyed to a shaft 24 that is driven at a slow rate of speed by mechanism which will be described hereinafter.

At intervals throughout the lengths of the chains 22 I insert special links 25 and 25 that carry outwardly extending blocks 26 and 26', the parts 25 and 26 being built into the chain shown at the left in Figs. 2 and 3, and the parts 25' and 26 being built into the chain shown at the right of those gures.

Formed integral with the outer side of each of the blocks 26 there is a track shoe 21 which has a rearward extension 28. The block 26 includes preferably as an integral part and on its outer side, a track shoe 29.

A pair of spaced track rails 30 are supported on each inner wall of the tank at intervals by brackets 3I and 32 connected by braces 33 and attached by screws or the like 34 to perforated lugs 35 mounted upon the side walls I2 of the tank. Other rails 36 are mounted below the rails 30, and are likewise supported upon brackets 31 and 38 connected by braces 39, these brackets also being secured by screws 46 to lugs 4I extending inwardly from the tank walls. The chains 22 run upon the rails 36, by winch they are supported against sagging.

At intervals throughout the length of the conveyor blocks 26 and 26', located opposite each other, are connected by hangers 42, which are castings made in the form of a U or in the form of a series of U s placed edge to edge, depending upon whether the hanger is designed to support one or a plurality of buckets. In the present instance each hanger comprises four U portions although in practice they are cast together as a single integral element. The lower part 43 of each U is extended laterally to the form of a circle with flat sides, as indicated in Fig. 5, and in the embodiment illustrated constitutes the base of the bucket. One of the upright arms of the hanger is shown in section in Fig. 2 and is numbered 44. 45 are parallel reenforcing webs cast onto the bottom members of the hanger.

'Ihe buckets may be made as castings, but I prefer to form them of sheet metal. A blank for the side walls of such a bucket is illustrated in Fig. l0. It may have a sheet metal bottom, but I prefer to let the flat disc-like portion 43 of the hanger serve as bottoms for` the buckets. As shown in Fig. 10, slots are stamped out of two opposite sides of the blank to leave flanges 46 and 41, which are adapted to be bent outward along the lines 48 and 49 to stand at right angles to the sides. These flanges 46 and 41 embrace the uprights 44 of the hanger, and those of one bucket meet those of an adjacent bucket edge to edge, as shown at the middle in the upper portion of Fig. 2. The flanges have semi-circular notches 50 formed in their edges. When the buckets are in place on the hanger, a clamp or clip I of inverted U form is slipped down over the upright 44 and the adjacent flanges 46 and 41, and thereafter bolts 52 are passed through openings in the clamp, through the openings formed by the registering notches 50 and through aligned openings in the upright 44. A screw 53 is also inserted through an opening in the top of the clamp and through registering notches 50 in the flanges 41 into a threaded opening in the top of the upright 44.

The buckets are thereby rigidly, although removably, mounted upon the hangers.

The numeral 54 is used herein as a general reference character applying to the buckets. The dot and dash lines in Fig. l0 indicate the lines of the bends in the bucket, it being understood that two sides are at and two sides curved. The side walls are perforated to permit the circulation of water or other cooking liquid through the bucket. The number, size, and location of the perforations may of course be varied to suit conditions. Covers for the buckets may be provided if desired, although I do not regard them as necessary for foods such as spaghetti.

The outer upright at the left of each hanger, as viewed in Fig. 2, has a lateral extension 55 to which is attached a casting 56. A shaft 51 is mounted in an opening formed in the two members 55 and 56 and in the upright, being locked against rotation therewith, and this shaft extends loosely through a bearing formed in the block 26 of the chain. A collar 58 is pinned to the shaft outside the block 26. This collar carries two fingers 59 and 68 and a. bracket 6I. In the bracket 6I there is pivoted a latch 62 which is adapted to engage the extension 28 on the track shoe 21. This latch is beveled on one side in order that it may ride over the extension 28 in one direction, and is normally held by a coil spring 63 against a stop 64 on the bracket.

On the extension 55 there is a track shoe 55 parallel with the shoe 21. These two shoes are adapted to run upon the lower surfaces of the rails 30. The shoe 65, being rigidly attached to the hanger 42, acts to prevent oscillation of the hanger, while the shoe 21, through the intermediacy of the extension 28 and the latch 62 acts also for a similar purpose.

On the opposite end of the hanger there is another track shoe 66 which is rigid with the adjacent upright of the hanger and which is identical in form with the shoes 29 and 65. On this end of the hanger a shaft 61 extends through the block 26' and into the hanger, and constitutes the means by which the hanger is supported from the chain 22 on that side of the machine.

For cooperation with the return run of the conveyor I mount lower down in the tank a pair of round rails 68 which cooperate with grooves 69 in the blocks 26 and 26' for guiding and supporting the chains on this run.

In order to guide the conveyor upwardly out of the liquid at the charging and discharging end of the machine, and then back again into the liquid, I employ three pairs of sprocket wheels 1D, 1I and 12. The wheels 10 aremounted upon a shaft 13 which is removably supported in open top bearings in the tank. The wheels 1I are likewise mounted upon a shaft 14 which is also removably supported in open top bearings carried by the walls of the tank. The wheels 12 are mounted upon a shaft 15 which is rotatably supported in end blocks 16 that are adjustable longitudinally of the machine by means of adjusting screws 11 and 18. The shaft 15 is held against longitudinal movement in the blocks 16 by removable bolts 19 carried by the blocks, these bolts extending through grooves formed in the shaft. The shaft 15 and its sprocket wheel 12 may therefore be removed for cleaning without disturbing the adjustment of the journal blocks 16. Each of the sprockets 1| and 12 is provided with a series of radial slots 80 within which vare accommodated the blocks 26 and 26' on the chains.

'I'he shaft 24 may be driven from a suitable power source through a reduction gearing of such character as to provide travel of the conveyor through a complete cycle in a length of time of the order of flve to fifteen minutes. As herein disclosed, I employ an electric motor 8|, the shaft 82 of which extends into a gear housing 83. Within the latter the shaft 82 carries a worm 84 which drives a worm wheel 85 on a vertical shaft 86, the latter carrying also a worm 81 which meshes with a Worm wheel 88 on a horizontal shaft 89. -On the latter shaft there is mounted a sprocket wheel 90 which is in the same vertical plane with another sprocket Wheel 9| that is mounted upon another shaft 92 lower down. 'Ihese two sprocket wheels are connected by means of a chain 93, and an adjustable idler sprocket 94 is employed to take up Whatever slack there may be in the chain. It may at times be desirable to substitute for one or the other of the sprockets 90 and 9| other sprockets of different size in order to vary the speed of travel of the conveyor, and when this is done the idler sprocket 94 is moved inwardly or outwardly to compensate for the difference in the effective length of the chain. On the shaft 92 thereis a worm 95 which drives a large worm wheel 96 that is fast on shaft 24.

In order to start and stop the mechanism independently of the motor I may employ a clutch 91 of any desired character between the sprocket 9| and the shaft 92, and this clutch may be cortrolled by hand lever 98 or the like.

On one of the inner side walls I2 at the charging and discharging end of the machine I mount, by means of screws 99 and spacers |00, a metal plate This plate is employed as a mounting for stops used in the dumping of the buckets. At the lower end of the plate I secure a stud |02 which is adapted to engage the finger 60 of each hanger as it passes the stud, and to thereby cause the tilting of the hanger and its buckets to the dumping position. The plate |0| also has secured to its outer surface a cam bar |03 for engagement with the nger 59, which serves to hold the corresponding buckets in dumping position for a period during their upward travel, the upper end of the bar |03 having a rather sharp curve by means ofv which a final tilt is imparted to the buckets more or less suddenly.

stirring or agitation of the food in the buckets is necessary or desirable in some instances. In the case vof spaghetti this is true, and it is also true that a rather vigorous agitation is benecial in that case, particularly during the early part of the cooking operation while the mass is expanding because of the water being absorbed. In the embodiment of the invention herein Aillustrated I have provided for such agitation by the following means:

Each disc-like portion 43 ofthe hangers 42 is formed with a central opening in which is journaled a shaft |04, upon the upperend of which within the bucket there is a spider which carries' one or more upstanding stirring oragi- 5 tating bars |06, see Figs. 2 and 5. 'I'he lower end of shaft |04 is surrounded by a collar |01 that carries an operating lever 08. The collar |01 is also provided with a radial extension |09, through which extends a radial opening that is adapted to register with an opening through the shaft |04.' In order to lock the collar |01 to the shaft removably, I insert a pin ||0 through these registering openings. At its outer extremity this pin has an angular portion rest within a notch in the extension |09 when the pin is rotated to the proper angle. A coil spring H2, attached to this angular portion III and to a depending lug ||3 .on the hanger, serves to hold the pin at the angle stated. It also serves to hold the extension |09 on the collar up against a stop H4 formed integral with one of the reenforcing webs 45.

In each of the transverse braces 39 I mount a set of upstanding pins ||5 which are located in 25 the paths of the levers |08, so that when the buckets travel past a given brace 39 each of the levers |08 is swung from a position, approximately that indicated in Fig. 5, to another position at an angle of about 135 therefrom, thereby storing up en- 30 ergy in the spring II2. As soon as the levers |08 pass these stop pins ||5, the springs ||2 return the shafts |04 with their agitators to the position indicated in Fig. 5. That portion of the stirring action contributed by the contraction of the spring is rather vigorous.

At the charging and discharging end of the machine I may employ a delivery chute or a plurality of delivery chutes H6 corresponding in number to the number of buckets in a hanger. These 40 chutes are so positioned as to receive the contents of the buckets when they are dumped, and by this means the cooked food may be directed into suitable dishes or containers.

Operation-Assuming that the tank has been filled to the proper level with water or other cooking liquid, and that the latter has been brought to the desired temperature for cooking, the mechanism may then be put into operation by starting the electric motor 8| and throwing into engage- 50 ment the clutch 91. As each bank or group of empty buckets comes into the position indicated substantially at A in Fig. 1 the operator deposits therein a measured quantity of the food to be cooked. The four buckets of each group may be filled, or, when the demand is not at the maximum, a lesser number, such as one, two or three buckets in each group may be filled, or if preferred all the buckets of certain groups may be filled while all those of another group may be left empty. V

The loaded buckets travel with the conveyor over the top of sprocket wheels 23 and downwardly toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 1. At this time they are held in vertical position by gravity alone. 'I'he conveyor is carried down below the water level by the sprocket wheels 12 until the track shoes 21, 29, and 66 of a given group of buckets slide over the forward ends of the track rails 30. From that time on during the travel of the buckets in engagement with the rails 30 the buckets are held against oscillation, which is essential in order that the agitators may be actuated. Otherwise the hangers would merely tilt 7 5 which is adapted to l5 suiciently to enable the levers |08 to ride over the tops of stop pins l l5.

When the group of buckets leaves the rails 30 at the rear of the machine, the buckets remainvertical by the action of gravity during their movement in the semi-circular path around the sprocket wheels 2 l. The track shoes 21 with their extensions 28 turn however with the chains to which they are secured. The extensions 28 therefore leave the latches 62 as the buckets make the turn, and the shoes 21 when they come into position for the return travel along the lower path are inverted, and the extension 28 is still in the rear, while the latch 62 leads instead of follows the central plane of the hanger.

Throughout the return travel along the tracks 68 the buckets are held in vertical, position by gravity alone, the tracks serving merely to support the weight of the conveyor and its load.

By the time a given set of buckets has reached the position indicated by B in Fig. l they are partly above the water level and the water in them is gradually draining out. When they get to the position indicated at C in Fig. 8 We can assume that all of the water is drained out. At this point the finger 60 engages stud |02, and as the collar 58 with which the nger 60 is integral is pinned to shaft 51, and that shaft is rigid with the hanger, the latter is turned or tilted in the chain blocks 26 and 26'. The track shoe 21 does not tilt with the buckets, being xed to the chain block 25. Hence as the hanger tilts in the chains from the position C toward the position D of Fig. 8, the latch 62 travels past the projection 28 over which it is cammed by its bevel face. Just before the nger 60 leaves the stud |02, the finger 59 comes into position to engage the cam bar |03, and the buckets are thereby held in dumping position for a further period. Before leaving the cam bar ID3 they are given a sudden further tilt and then released, when gravity tends to swing them back to vertical position. This sudden movement serves to dislodge any material which might otherwise adhere occasionally to the walls of the buckets. When the finger 59 passes beyond the cam bar |03 the buckets do not however assume a vertical position, because the latch 62 swings up against the extension 28 on the track shoe 21, and the buckets are thereby held in inclined position, as indicated at E in Fig. 8. rIlhe engagement between the latch 62 and the extension 28 continues throughout the rest of the upward movement of the buckets, and they therefore stand in substantially radially positions until they reach the highest point in the travel of the conveyor. On the descent the shoe 21 moves away from the latch 62, and the buckets therefore are free to hang vertical again.

The machine may be operated continuously for long periods, and without attention except for the placing and removal of containers for receiving the cooked food as it is unloaded through the chutes H6, and except for the reloading of the empty buckets. At the end of a days run that part of the machine within the tank may be completely disassembled, the bearings for the various shafts permitting the removal of shafts 20, 13 and 14 upwardly and the removal of shaft 15 lengthwise, as previously described. The tracks and braces for the upper run of the conveyor are also readily removable by the removal of screws 34 and 40. The disassembly of these parts may be performed in a comparatively short time and all of the parts thoroughly cleaned and reassembled.

In the foregoing description I have necessarily such that said buckets means for heating the liquid in gone somewhat into detail in order to explain fully the particular embodiments of the invention herein illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that such detail disclosures are not'to be construed as amounting to limitations, except as they may be included in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a cooker, a tank adapted to hold liquid, means for heating the liquid in the tank, a conveyor having a path of movement into said tank, through said tank and out of said tank, a series of buckets associated with said conveyor for movement therewith into, through and out of said tank, said buckets having foraminous portions adapted to permit the circulation of liquid therethrough, means for driving said conveyor, and means for dumping said buckets as they travel with the conveyor after rising above the liquid level in the tank, said dumping means for each bucket comprising a xed cam bar and a finger rigid with the bucket, said cam bar having a hook portion adapted to impart a sudden jerk to the buckets while in inverted position at the conclusion of the dumping operation whereby any matcrial which may tend to adhere to the bucketsr is dislodged.

2. In a cooker, an elongated tank adapted to hold liquid, means for heating the liquid in the tank, an endless conveyor comprising two runs vertically spaced within the tank, means for driving said conveyor, a series of buckets associated with said conveyor for movement therewith, said buckets having foraminous portions adapted to permit circulation of the liquid therethrough, one end of said conveyor being so located and arranged as to lift said buckets above the liquid level of the tank, and the other end of the conveyor being so located and arranged as to cause the buckets associated therewith in both runs to travel beneath the liquid level of the tank, and means actuated by the travel of the conveyor for dumping said buckets during their rise at the elevated end of the conveyor.

3. In a cooker, an elongated tank adapted t hold liquid, means for heating the liquid in the tank, an endless conveyor comprising two runs vertically spaced, a series of buckets associated with said conveyor for movement therewith, said buckets having foraminous portions adapted to permit circulation of the liquid therethrough, the major portion of said runs extending in substantially parallel paths through said tank at heights travel beneath the liquid level of the tank, the two runs of the conveyor at one end of the apparatus having upwardly extending portions such that the buckets associated therewith rise above the liquid level, lmeans for driving said conveyor, and means actuated by the travel of the conveyor for dumping said buckets as they rise above the liquid level at the elevated end of the conveyor.

4. In a cooker, a tank adapted to hold liquid,

the tank, a conveyor having a path of movement into said tank, through said tank and out of said tank, a series of buckets associated with said conveyor for movement therewith into, through and out of said tank, said buckets having foraminous portions adapted to permit the circulation of liquid therethrough, an agitator mounted in each bucket, a spring attached to each agitator, means put into motion by the travel of the conveyor for moving each agitator in a direction to tension its spring and then releasing the agitators during the travel of the buckets through the tank, and means for driving said conveyor. -f

5. In a cooker, a tank adapted to hold liquid, means for heating the liquid in the tank, a conveyor having a path of movement into said tank, through said tank and out of said tank, a series of buckets associated with said conveyor for movement therewith into, through and out of said tank, said buckets having foraminous portions adapted to permit the circulation of liquid therethrough, an agitator bucket, each of said agitators carrying an operating lever, means mounted in the tank for engagement with each of said levers, whereby each` lever is operated to actuate its agitator, and means for driving said conveyor.

6. In a cooker, a tank adapted to hold liquid, means for heating the liquid in the tank, a conveyor having a path of movement into said tank, through said tank and out of said tank, a series of buckets associated with said conveyor for movement therewith into, through and out of said tank, said buckets having foramlnous portions adapted to permit the circulation of liquid therethrough, an agitator mounted bucket, each of said agitators carrying an operating lever and a spring tending to hold said lever in a given position, and a stop mounted in the tank in position to be engaged by said lever, whereby the lever is turned upon its axis against the action of said spring until the stop is cleared, whereupon the spring acts to impart rapid motion to the lever in a reverse direction, and means for driving the conveyor at a relatively slow rate of speed.

7. In a cooker, a tank adapted to hold liquid, means for heating the liquid in the tank, a conveyor having a path of m'ovement into said tank, through said tank and out of said tank, a series of buckets associated with said conveyor for movement therewith into, through and out of said tank, said buckets having foraminous portions adapted to permit the circulation of liquid therethrough, means for driving said conveyor at a relatively slow rate of speed, and means set in operation by the conveyor travel for building up energy tending to oscillate said agitators and for suddenly releasing-said energy, whereby sudden vigorous agitation is imparted to the contents of the buckets.

8. In a cooker, a tank adapted to hold liquid,

' means for heating the liquid in the tank, a conveyor having a path of movement into said tank, through said tank and out of said tank, a series of buckets associated with said conveyor for movement therewith into, throughA and out of said tank, said buckets having foraminous pormounted in each in each 9. In a cooker, a conveyor adapted to travel through a tank containing cooking liquid, said conveyor comprising two endless flexible elements spaced apart horizontally, hangers connecting opposed portions of said free to oscillate, buckets supported in said hangers, whereby gravity may act to maintain the buckets in vertical position, a track associated with a run of said conveyor, means on the hanger adapted to engage said track for preventing oscillation of the hanger and its bucket, an agitator mounted in each bucket, an operating lever for each agitator, and fixed means for engaging said lever, whereby the agitator is actuated during the travel of the conveyor ing the bucket.

l0. A bucket for a cooker, comprising a base and side walls, said base having an opening therethrough, a, shaft extending through said opening, within the bucket, an operating lever mounted on the shaft below said base, releasable means for locking said lever to the shaft, a stop on the base to limit the oscillation of the shaft in one direction, and spring means tending to hold the shaft 85 against the stop.

11. A bucket foi` a cooker, comprising a base and side walls, said base having an opening therethrough, a shaft extending through said opening, within the bucket, an operating lever mounted on the shaft below said base, releasable means for locking said lever to the shaft, a stop on the base to limit the oscillation of the shaft in one direction, and spring means secured to the base 45 and to said locking m'eans for holding the locking means in position and for holding the shaft against the stop.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a plurality of buckets, a hanger adapted to support 50 the same, each of said buckets having outwardly extending vertical ribs, the ribs of adjacent buckets being juxtaposed, said hanger having an upstanding portion between adjacent buckets,

and a removable clamp for holding said ribs in 55 locked-engagement with said upstanding portion.

HECTOR J. BOIARDI.

elements but 15 without oscillatan agitator bar secured to the shaft an agitator bar secured to the shaft 

